'Luckily, Kentucky has open borders': AOC told to apologize before visiting the state

Democratic socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the newest political figure everyone loves or loves to hate. From her ‘Green New Deal’ proposal to combat climate change to her clapbacks against Trump and her critics, here’s how AOC danced her way into the spotlight.
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Barr, a Republican, told the outspoken Democratic lawmaker that her criticisms directed at U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, a former Navy SEAL, demonstrate a lack of civility.

"I urge you to apologize to our colleague prior to coming to visit Kentucky," Barr said in an April 12 letter provided to the Courier Journal.

Corbin Trent, a spokesman for Ocasio-Cortez, said their office has received the correspondence.

"Luckily, Kentucky has open borders," Trent told the Courier Journal. "If we decided to go to Kentucky to visit with coal miners, which we certainly hope to, and talk about the opportunities that can be brought to the rural South ... and to coal-mine country and Appalachia, that can be brought by transitioning to renewable energy and the Green New Deal, we'll be excited to do so."

In a March speech before the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Omar talked about how terrorism has spawned a rise in anti-Islamic activity.

"Far too long we have lived with the discomfort of being a second-class citizen and frankly, I'm tired of it, and every single Muslim in this country should be tired of it," she said. "CAIR was founded after 9/11 because they recognized that some people did something and that all of us were starting to lose access to our civil liberties."

Crenshaw took to social media where he decried Omar's comments.

“First member of Congress to ever describe terrorists who killed thousands of Americans on 9/11 as ‘some people who did something,’" he tweeted. "Unbelievable."

First Member of Congress to ever describe terrorists who killed thousands of Americans on 9/11 as “some people who did something”.

Barr jumped into this, along with other conservative lawmakers, by defending Crenshaw's war record. He pointed out in his letter to Ocasio-Cortez that Crenshaw served three tours in Afghanistan.

"(N)ot only has Congressman Crenshaw 'done something' to combat terrorism, he was wounded by an improvised explosive device while serving — causing him to lose his right eye," Barr said.

Trent, Ocasio-Cortez's spokesman, said Friday that Barr and other GOP lawmakers should be ashamed for taking Omar's comments out of context.

"Rep. Omar was not being dismissive of the 9/11 attacks," Trent said. "There's no question about that. They've latched onto that for political gain to continue fanning the flames of hate and Islamophobia. And I find that to be disgusting and frankly, un-American."

Asked if Barr is rescinding his invitation, spokeswoman Jodi Whitaker told the Courier Journal that he is just suggesting that she apologize before planning her trip.

Andy Barr

Barr extended the invite to Ocasio-Cortez during a hearing this month about the ambitious Green New Deal. The Kentucky Republican said that many coal miners are out of work and that she should meet the men and women who work to power the country.

"I'd be happy to," Ocasio-Cortez said. "In fact, when I first started my campaign, the first place I went was Kentucky."

Since then, however, there's been no word about when or if she will be visiting the Bluegrass State. A Barr spokeswoman said they haven't received a reply as of this week.

Barr said in his letter that his offer to Ocasio-Cortez to visit Kentucky was made in "good faith" but that her comments toward Crenshaw should be addressed.

"I have always thought regardless of political party, beliefs or ideology, that we need to treat all of our colleagues with respect and dignity," he said. "Such courtesies are critical to the function and decorum of the House."

Trent said Barr, who campaigned with President Donald Trump last fall, can't lecture about civility amid increasing concerns about hate and violence toward racial and religious minorities.

"We've got one member of Congress fanning the flames of hate against another member and then (Barr) coming to defend their positions," Trent said. "I think Rep. Crenshaw, the New York Post, right-wing media, other members of Congress and this president – we've seen the flames of hate fanned continuously over the past several years here."

Trent said Crenshaw was deliberately targeting Omar, in part, because she is one of the first Muslim women to serve in Congress.

Ocasio-Cortez's office also pointed to Thursday's cover of the New York Post, which has ignited a barrage of criticism for featuring an image of the World Trade Center burning in the Sept. 11 terrorist attack with Omar's quote, as an example.

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., listens to a Congressional staffer during a US House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing, 'Freedom of Information Act: Examining Transparency Under the Trump Administration', on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, March 13, 2019. The hearing was held to examine how the Trump administration handles Freedom of Information Act requests. MICHAEL REYNOLDS, EPA-EFE

A mural depicting the face of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is displayed on a wall in the Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan, Feb. 19, 2019 in New York City. Street artist Lexi Bella painted the mural of the young New York Congresswoman, who represents portions of The Bronx and Queens. Drew Angerer, Getty Images

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez delivers remarks to activists calling on Congress to enact permanent protections for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders during a protest outside the White House in Washington, DC, Feb.12 2019. Immigrants from Honduras and Nepal have filed a class action lawsuit a day earlier alleging the Trump administration and the Department of Homeland Security's ending of the TPS program was 'motivated by racial animus.' SHAWN THEW, EPA-EFE

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other Congresswomen wear white as they listen as President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address from the House chamber of the United States Capitol in Washington on Feb. 5, 2019. Jasper Colt, USA TODAY

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks beside activist Lilly Ledbetter (L) and others during an event with Democratic members of Congress and national organization members to reintroduce the Paycheck Fairness Act, on Capitol Hill in Washington on Jan. 30, 2019. Democratic members of Congress reintroduced the Paycheck Fairness Act ten years after former US President Barack Obama signed into law the the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. The legislation intends to close the pay gap between men and women by requiring equal pay for equal work MICHAEL REYNOLDS, EPA-EFE

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) (C) join their fellow House Democratic women for a portrait in front of the U.S. Capitol Jan. 4, 2019 in Washington, DC. The 116th Congress has the biggest number of female members ever while the number of Democratic women in the House has grown from 16 to 89 since 1989. Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez takes a selfie with Rep. Ann McLane Kuster, D-NH, and Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., on the first day of the 116th Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 3, 2019. J. Scott Applewhite, AP

Newly-elected House Members Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY, left, and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-FL), center, and Abby Finkenauer, D-IA, right, huddle from the wind and cold as they arrive to gather at the U.S. Capitol for a class photo on Nov. 14, 2018. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who is running as the Democratic nominee for New York's 14th congressional district, talks with reporters after casting her ballot in the 2018 midterm general election at a polling site in the Bronx, New York on Nov. 6, 2018. Voters across the nation are selecting who will represent them on local, state and national levels. Justin Lane, EPA-EFE

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who is running as the Democratic nominee for New York's 14th congressional district, casts her ballots in the 2018 mid-term general election at a polling site in the Bronx, New York on Nov. 6, 2018. Justin Lane, EPA-EFE

New York City congressional nominee Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez attends a tour event as part of her congressional campaign, in The Bronx, New York on Oct. 3, 2018. Ocasio-Cortez attended the event as part of her campaign's commitment to cultivate dialogue in the Bronx and Queens. Alba Vigaray, EPA-EFE

Democratic congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks with reporters after her general campaign kick-off rally in the Bronx borough of New York on Sept. 22, 2018. Don Emmert, AFP/Getty Images

Democratic congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez talks with supporters during her general campaign kick-off rally in the Bronx borough of New York on Sept. 22, 2018. Don Emmert, AFP/Getty Images

New York City congressional nominee Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, left, high-fives a young school boy at Public School 019 in Corona, Queens, New York on Sept. 13, 2018. Today voters are casting ballots in the New York State Democratic Primary. Peter Foley, EPA-EFE

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the winner of a Democratic Congressional primary in New York, greets a passerby in New York, Wednesday, June 27, 2018, the morning after she upset U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley in Tuesday's primary election. Mark Lennihan, AP